When Kyle Davidson took over as general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks, he committed to a full-scale rebuild — the kind that takes years, not months. Three drafts later, the results are impossible to ignore: 11 first-round picks between 2022 and 2025, with two more already in the bank for 2026. Add it up, and that’s 38 total draft selections over the last four NHL Drafts. It’s a massive haul of young talent, and a clear sign that this organization is sticking to its plan.
The question now is simple: when does the shift from rebuilding to building a contender begin?
Blackhawks Roster Built for Development, Not Playoffs
For the 2025–26 season, Davidson didn’t chase big-name UFAs to fill the lineup. Instead, he left open spots for the organization’s youngest players to step in, make mistakes, and grow. This year isn’t about chasing a wild-card spot — it’s about evaluation and improvement.
The Blackhawks currently have over $18 million in cap space, and Davidson appears content to keep it that way for now. The bigger spending decisions will come later, when the right pieces are available. That restraint is smart — next summer, Chicago faces 11 pending RFAs and 8 UFAs. Even with the salary cap expected to rise, careful planning is needed to avoid contract headaches down the road.
Blackhawks Core Is Forming, but There Are Gaps
At forward, Connor Bedard is the centerpiece — no surprise there. Frank Nazar is ready to push for a full-time NHL role, while Oliver Moore is still a question mark for a top-six spot. For now, veterans like Tyler Bertuzzi, Ryan Donato, and Teuvo Teravainen are transitional pieces — here to guide the kids but not likely part of the long-term plan.
The blue line has some promising young talent, but it’s still missing the kind of experienced, stabilizing presence that can mentor the next wave. In net, the situation looks solid for now, giving Davidson one less headache to solve.
Still, you can’t build a winner through the draft alone. The Blackhawks will eventually need to supplement their prospect pool with targeted trades and free-agent signings to round out the roster.
The Next Wave of First-Round Talent
Since 2022, Chicago has made 11 first-round selections, stocking the organization with elite prospects at every position. For the 2025–26 season, Artyom Levshunov (2nd overall, 2024) and Sam Rinzel (25th overall, 2022) are expected to crack the NHL roster, while others will continue their development in the AHL or junior leagues.
The biggest question is whether Anton Frondell (3rd overall, 2025) will make the jump right away or spend another year in the SHL, where he could also play a major role at the 2026 World Juniors. Oliver Moore (19th overall, 2023) faces a similar decision — he has the skill to compete for a roster spot but could benefit from starting the season in the AHL to adjust to the speed and physicality of the pro game. Sacha Boisvert (18th overall, 2024) is set to return to the NCAA for another season. This mix of immediate contributors and patient projects is a major reason Chicago’s rebuild has such a strong foundation.
Looking Ahead: Big Decisions Are Coming for Blackhawks
The 2026 draft is expected to land Chicago another top-five selection, adding one more high-end piece to the puzzle. But that also means the clock is ticking. Development takes time, but opportunities in the NHL can disappear quickly.
With 19 players — veterans and prospects alike — in contract years, this season will give Davidson and his staff the information they need to decide who stays and who goes. Next summer could be the true turning point, shifting from asset collection to roster construction.
The Blackhawks don’t need to rush the process, but they also can’t afford to stay in neutral forever. Building around Bedard, Frondell and Nazar with skilled, reliable wingers should be priority number one. The 2026 UFA class could provide exactly that — if the Black Hawks are ready to spend.
Patience, Culture, and the Long Game
Rebuilding is never a straight line. There are bumps along the way, but the best teams stay committed to the plan. Davidson’s vision is clear: build a strong culture from the top down — from management to the coaching staff to the players.
Chicago’s division isn’t going to get any easier. Utah is improving quickly, and Dallas, Colorado, Minnesota, and Winnipeg remain strong. Still, the Black Hawks could surpass Nashville soon and may be able to challenge St. Louis within two years.
For now, it’s about patience — letting the prospects gain experience, learn the pro game, and prove they can be part of the core that brings Chicago back to the top.
The Blackhawks have the picks, the prospects, and the cap space. Now, they need the right moves at the right time to turn this rebuild into the NHL’s next big success story.
Do you think Kyle Davidson is playing this rebuild the right way, or should the Blackhawks start making bigger moves sooner?
I believe KFC will stay the course to see what he can expect from his prospects. I’m looking forward to seeing the “D” prospects do their thing. It should be a good preseason.
I agree — Davidson will want a good look at the young guys before making any moves. In my opinion, I’m especially going to watch Levshunov and Rinzel very closely at the main camp. Thanks for your comment!
Hello BJPHAWKFAN.
In addition to blog replies, there is a forum section that is very similar to the old HB forums.
I have started a few topics, but almost nobody showed up yet to chat.
Just click “forums”, then scroll down and click on Chicago Blackhawks,
you will see some existing topics or you can start your own.
Thanks for the info, Metalhead — I appreciate you sharing this! ????
For now, “bigger moves sooner” is not only unwise, it is nearly impossible.
All teams are either
a) fighting for the cup or
b) sitting on plenty of cap space.
Pittsburgh is the only team trying to rebuild (though probably trying to do the quick version).
Nobody is offering “NHL quality player right now” for “draft picks/recently drafted kids”.
Unless something is going on behind the scenes that nobody has a hint about.
Even if the Hawks where able to make a big move now, they’d be throwing a dart and *what position*
and *what kind of* player they might or might not need down the road.
The most sensible idea is to wait until
1) they know better where they need the final pieces to make a deep playoff run
2) a few more teams fail in their push for a Cup and decide to break it down and trade good NHL players for futures
Of course none of this matters unless a high enough % of these kids become a combination of
worthwhile, good, very good and great in the NHL.
You’re absolutely right — I don’t see any major moves coming until at least the trade deadline. This season is all about evaluation and development for the Blackhawks. I agree with you 100%. Sure, teams like the Penguins, Flames, or Bruins might shake things up at some point, but I still believe Chicago will stay relatively quiet until next summer. Thanks for sharing your thoughts — spot on!